Are you a Montessori guide with an entrepreneurialdrive and a deep belief in racial equity and social justice? Have you alwaysdreamed of starting your own school?<o:p></o:p>

Wildflower Schools are a decentralized network ofmicro-schools that serve racially and socioeconomically diverse communitieswith an exceptional Montessori education. <o:p></o:p>

We are establishing the foundation in the District ofColumbia for Montessori trained Teacher Leaders and communities to design andopen Wildflower schools. <o:p></o:p>

Who We Are <o:p></o:p>

We are an organization that provides tools and support tocreate beautiful, child-centered learning environments that support children,teachers, and families from diverse backgrounds as they follow life’s unfoldingjourneys. The model combines time-tested, research-supported Montessori methodsin one-room, neighborhood-nested shop fronts with promising new ideas in parentengagement, intentional student diversity, teacher empowerment, and data-driveninstruction. Wildflower aspires to give all children and families theopportunity to have access to high quality, nurturing, and inclusive learningenvironments. <o:p></o:p>

Our Schools <o:p></o:p>

Each Wildflower school is unique and led by the teachers whobring their training and life experiences, along with a deep commitment tomeeting the specific needs of their children and families. Embedded in thisrich diversity of experiences and perspectives are 9 Principles that unite ourschools: <o:p></o:p>

Montessori- Providinga peaceful, mixed-age, child-directed environment; ?<o:p></o:p>

TeacherLed - Committedto remaining small, non-hierarchical and responsive to the needs of children; ?<o:p></o:p>

Equity- Working tocreate diverse, inclusive learning environments that work for justice as the ?foundation of peace; ?<o:p></o:p>

Shopfront- A neighborhood-nested schoolcommitted to working in partnership with the ?surrounding community tocreate an environment that is healthy for children; ?<o:p></o:p>

Innovation- Committed to exploring newideas and the ongoing, scientific study and improvement of ?our practice; ?<o:p></o:p>

Home- Blurring theboundaries of homeschooling and institutional schooling; parents are valuedpartners of the teacher-leaders; ?

Beauty - Cultivating a deep beauty inall things – in the design, culture and artistic expression within our schoolenvironments; in our interactions with one another; and in our relationshipwith ourselves; ?

Nature - Emphasizing the connectionbetween nature and humans through a unique living-classroom design andextensive time in nature; and ?

Network - Advancing an ecosystem ofindependent Wildflower schools that mutually support one another. ?<o:p></o:p>

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